“We’ve been
looking for years to bring higher education to
MonroeCounty,” said Joseph Bukowski,
president, BelmontTechnical
College.

The BTC Board
met May 28 in Woodsfield and unanimously adopted a resolution to
support the proposed plan to bring Higher Education to MonroeCounty.

The college, in January of 2007, formed a
partnership with the Ohio Department of Development and Monroe
County Commissioners for a feasibility study. Later, with the
encouragement of Team Monroe, a Memorandum of Understanding
between the college and commissioners was signed.

Bukowski commended Team Monroe and its
community developer, Tom Scott, and Debbie Haney, former
director, Monroe County Job and Family Services. He said they
supported the MOU 1000 percent.

John Pyles,
president of the board of county commissioners thanked the BTC
Board on behalf of the commissioners and the county. He noted
with appreciation the college’s passion to bring higher
education to
MonroeCounty.

The proposed plan is based on the principles
of the MOU. Elements of the Plan:
• Strategy 1 – Initiate a P-16 Council• Strategy 2 – Collaborate with area high
schools and career centers in meeting the new CORE requirements
and in expanding articulation agreements.• Strategy 3 – Develop multiple pathways to
higher education in MonroeCounty• Strategy 4 –
Develop an extensive program of community engagement through
expanded marketing efforts highlighting both college
opportunities and student success.• Strategy 5 – Establish a funding base for
Monroe County Higher Education.

Resolutions concerning the proposed assisted
living unit at MonroeCountyCareCenter
were adopted May 26 by Monroe County Commissioners, who also
discussed a grant for over $248,000 for the airport.

On a motion by John Pyles, commission
president, a contract with DSI Architects was signed pending the
approval of the prosecuting attorney, in the amount of $66,000.
The amount is based on a $1.2 million construction contract for
an assisted living unit and improvements at
MonroeCountyCareCenter. According to
discussion, the cost will be lower if results of surveys and
core samples already done can be used.

According to Bob Reed of Share, the
Columbus-based company which administers the care center,
preliminary plans call for 12 single rooms and three
semi-private rooms in assisted living and the conversion of a
four-bed ward to two semi-private rooms in the care center.

Two resolutions were adopted. The first, for
reimbursement, authorizes use of a portion of the proceeds of
care center bonds for construction and improvements.

The second authorizes issuance not to exceed
a maximum of $1,750,000 for constructing an assisted living unit
and improvements at the care center.

Gary Cook of the Monroe County Airport
Authority told commissioners the airport has been approved for a
Federal Aviation grant in the amount of $248,840.90 for paving.
Cook said the board must know by June 11 if they can get the
needed $13,624 local share and do the project.

According to Cook, the grant would allow for
paving the taxiways, ramps, areas behind the hangars and for
sealing the pavement.

Pyles said he would hate to lose the grant.
Officials will explore possibilities regarding the local share.

He said he believes his company is being
economically discriminated against by the airport authority
and/or county commissioners.

Forshey told officials he has contacted the
offices of senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, as well
as U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson’s office and the FAA Airport
District office.

Forshey said he feels the authority is not
meeting “every grant assurance” and, in a letter dated April 22,
asked the FAA program manager to “review the grants and if found
in non-compliance, to seek redress up to and including repayment
of grant monies and disqualification from further FAA airport
grants for the county airport.”

Gary Cook said the board had offered land to
Forshey but had been turned down. According to Forshey, land was
offered but not by the board. He said Charlie Brooks had made an
offer. Concerning his rejection of the proposal for ground,
Forshey said the airport was constructed to state standards not
FAA regulations. He said the present buildings are all closer
than 250 feet from the runway centerline. He said he did not
believe the authority has sufficient land for development that
would make construction of a hangar economically feasible for a
small aviation maintenance operation.

The EMS contract, which expires June 11, was extended to June
17. Contract changes were discussed and Kuhn said he will bring
those changes to commissioners on June 15.

With regard to the contract, the EMS
Association has made a recommendation that the first $4 of the
mileage payout go into the Capital Improvement Fund and the
remainder to workers’ compensation until it is paid off.
Arrangements were made should the price of gasoline go above $3
per gallon.

Tom Scott, Team Monroe Community Developer,
asked officials for their thoughts about his proposal to
institute a bed tax. Pyles said the assisted living facility
told him they don’t want it. Scott noted that in preparing the
tax, you can exclude the the assisted living facilities. “If
we can write exclusions, I have no problem with it,” said
Commissioner Tim Price.

Scott also mentioned formation of a Planning
Commission that may one day replace Team Monroe.

Pandora Neuhart, county auditor, and Denise
Stoneking, deputy auditor, were in executive session with
commissioners and Rick Schuerman, countyEMA
coordinator, from 9:20 to 9:50 a.m. The reason given was
security arrangements. No action was taken with regard to the
session.

Auditor of State Mary Taylor on May 29
declared the village of Jerusalem
unauditable for fiscal years 2007 and 2008. An unauditable
designation means that records and documents necessary to
conduct a routine financial audit are missing, incomplete or
inaccurate.

“Village officials must maintain proper
records of their financial activity in accordance with state law
and established record retention schedules,” said Taylor “The failure to do
so increases the potential of misspending or theft of public
funds.”

In a letter sent to the village on May 22,
Taylor
indicated that she declared the village unauditable because many
financial documents were incomplete or inaccurate and certain
accounts were not balanced.

Taylor
said the Auditor of State’s Local Government Service section is
available to assist village officials in correcting record
keeping deficiencies if needed.

The letter also said that the Auditor of
State reserves the right to pursue legal action if village
officials fail to revise financial records and provide
information necessary to complete the audit.

The village will remain unauditable until all
financial documents are obtained and the final audit report is
released publicly.

Kyle
Cox, a home schooled student from Beallsville, was the recipient
of a $500 Judges’ Scholarship. Kyle has consistently placed in
the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. This past
year he competed at the state level. Judge James Peters and
Judge Julie Selmon, who offer the annual scholarship, presented
the check to Kyle, who is the son of Jeff and Laurie Cox.

The high point
of Beallsville High and Elementary schools’ Mini Relay-for-Life
was the survivors’ walk, which was followed by a balloon
release. Over 300 balloons, remembering and honoring cancer
patients, were released into the clear, blue sky. The schools
raised over $18,000, breaking a state record, which included
schools of all sizes. Photos Submitted

Trey
Taylor won the “decorate a t-shirt”
contest, held during Beallsville’s Mini Relay-for-Life.

Beallsville High and Elementary schools held
their second Mini Relay for Life on May 21. To say that it was a
success would be an understatement. With much support from the
community, the students and faculty over $18,000 was raised.
This broke the $17,000+ state record in
Ohio. This record included schools of
all sizes.

Many students worked to raise the money for
their donations. The young entrepreneurs planted flowers,
created crafts, washed dogs and cars and collected pennies. The
General Business class sponsored a lemonade stand, the seniors
and eighth graders washed over 100 cars and the sophomore class
helped with the flea market. The younger students were
entertained with carnival games and field day activities
supervised by high school students who donated their time.
Several teachers became targets in the dunk tank or served a
sentence in the “jail” to raise money.

Winner of the “decorate a t-shirt” contest
was third grader Trey Taylor, whose lollipop-covered shirt
displayed the message “Help Us Lick Cancer.” He sold the
lollipops for a quarter each and donated the money.

The first Beallsville Mini Relay 300 had cars
entered from each of the high school classes. The cardboard
cars, designed and built by the students, traveled a three-lap
course around the football field complete with obstacles and a
ramp. The sophomore class won the trophy and will defend its
title at next year’s relay.

The high point of the day was
the survivors’ walk followed by a balloon release. Over 300
balloons remembering and honoring cancer patients were released
into the clear blue sky. Many special thoughts and prayers
ascended with the balloons. As the balloons floated away,
everyone was invited to join the students in a cancer awareness
walk.

A special assembly was held May 22 to
recognize everyone who helped to raise the record-breaking
amount and to present checks to the American Cancer Society and
to five local cancer patients.

Lou “Scooter” Tolzda, chairman of the event,
had promised the student body that he would dye his hair blonde
if they surpassed the state record. The assembly ended with the
gym becoming a beauty salon and Tolzda, true to his word,
allowed his hair to be lightened.

Ellen L.
Brubaker, 74, Wooster, died May
18, 2009 at WoosterCommunityHospital.
She was born May 9, 1935 in Martins Ferry, a daughter of
Thurmond G. and Mildred Mae Davis Thomas.

Online tributes may be made at
www.robertsfuneralhome.com

LILLIAN F.
SMITH

Lillian Frances
Smith, 92, 205 Wood
Terrace Rd., Woods-field, died May
26, 2009 in Monroe
CountyCareCenter,
Woodsfield. She was born Feb. 3, 1917 in Blackfork, a daughter
of the late Warren and Elizabeth Garey Evans. Online condolences
may be expressed at www.wattersfuneralhome.com.

LOUISE M. EVANS

Louise M.
Evans, 81, New Matamoras, died May 26, 2009 at BarnesvilleHospital.
She was born May 13, 1928 in
MonroeCounty, a daughter of the
late Hershel and Lucille Conley Ritchie.

Condolences can
be expressed at www.bauerturner.com.

HELEN G. SMITH

Helen G. Smith,
83, 30386 Bracken
Rdg. Rd.,
Lewisville, died May 30, 2009, at
Woodsfield Nursing and
RehabilitationCenter. She was born May
1, 1926 near Somerton, a daughter of the late Everett and Verna
McMurray Mann.

Online
condolences may be expressed at www.wattersfuneralhome.com

“TERM” THURMAN
W. LONGWELL

“Term” Thurman
W. Longwell, 88, Sardis,
died May 31, 2009 at New Martinsville Health Care Center. He was
born Oct. 8, 1920 in Duffy, a son of the late William and Cory
Longwell. Expressions of
sympathy may be made online to www.jarvisfuneralhomes.com.

Dear Editor,A beautiful
four-lamp-pole was erected over the filled-in well, on the
Woodsfield square, around 1942. The light pole was donated by
Davy Crawford, a respected, caring citizen of Woodsfield and
MonroeCounty. It is pictured in
1989 in Monroe County History by Theresa A. and Stanley B.
Maienknecht, cherished as a Woodsfield Heritage.

The light pole was removed for repair a few
years ago with a promise it would be placed back in its original
space. I, with many others ask, “When?”

People say they avoid the
Woodsfield Square, since the light
pole is no longer there. They are unable to know which line of
traffic to follow.

If more space is needed for large vehicles to
turn around the light pole, remove a few feet of each flower
bed.

Flowers are one of God’s gifts. They wilt and
die-even with regular care but are not a heritage for the
generations. The light pole is.

Bertha Burkhart
Woodsfield

Dear Editor,

Campus Martius Matters! The
CampusMartiusMuseum
and the Ohio RiverMuseum in
Marietta
along with 16 other Ohio Historical Society sites are in danger.
Because of budget cuts, these special places may close after
June 30. The citizens of Ohio must do something.

These museums
should not close down because they show how people lived long
ago. Museums not only hold our past, they keep history alive and
interesting. One last reason is that
Marietta
was “the start of it all.” It was the first American settlement
west of the Ohio River. Campus Martius represents the start of Ohio.

As fourth graders we were appalled when we
heard that museums across Ohio could shut down. These sites are places
that so many people go to experience history. We think that
there should be money set aside to keep Ohio Historical Society
sites open.

Everyone can help by writing letters to
officials throughout the state to let them know that these sites
matter and need financial support. Visit saveohiomuseums.org for
more information.

Fourth Grade Students
Skyvue Elementary

Dear Editor,

I really appreciate the veterans group that
is responsible for the Civil War memorial recently erected by
the Court House.

My great-great-grandfather, Moses “Fletcher”
Starr served in the 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was
mortally wounded at the Battle of Lynchburg on June 18, 1864.
His body was never returned to his wife and children, and his
final resting place is unknown. I feel that he, and the other
soldiers who gave their “last full measure of devotion”, deserve
to be recognized for their sacrifice. It is a comfort to me that
his name has a place of honor in MonroeCounty
and will remain for future generations.

Middle of the road politicians get hit by
traffic from both directions.

It’s more tempting to be ruined by praise
than to improved by criticism.

Well, Esther and I attended our alumni
banquet a week or so ago. Kind of fun to get together with a
number of older folks again. Seems as though every one is so
much older. There were three ladies attended who graduated in
1935. That’s a long time ago. I didn’t know them as I was
attending two room school only in the 5th grade, I think, I was
still wearing bib overalls back then.

I did enjoy seeing several fellows I had in
class when I taught school there in the middle ’50s. They are
starting to look old now. On the not so happy side, the memorial
roll contained the names of three fellows I had in class back
then. Only one other member of my class attended and we grew up
in Fairview so we had a good visit.

I tend to listen to Fox news some of the
time; I get tired of hearing our two stations reporting on riff
raff in the OhioValley over and over.

I did hear something on Fox the other day how
teachers can get their students to buckle down and really study.
This teacher told her students for each student who got 100
percent on a test she would eat a worm. Know what? All 30
students got 100 percent on the test. She had to eat 30 worms.

Made national TV. She even had three students
with her to tell what they thought and they all ate a worm or
two. Wish I had thought of this when I was teaching.

Thinking a little more about this, I knew a
kid in Lewisville
that would gulp down a worm or two.

The teacher did say the raw worm had no
taste. I’ll take her word for it. I bet a nickel to a doughnut
you know of someone who has eaten a worm.

Well, the weather is still playing games. We
had a nice stretch of good weather; now we’re in the middle of a
rainy spell. I thought I’d mow as the sun was shining. By the
time I was headed for my mower, it started raining. Now the sun
is out again. So let it grow.

You know, this time of year it’s tough to
think of something to write about. This plus when you get older
you do not seem to get around to see what’s going on.

It’s a bit like a graduate course I took at
OSU a long time ago. Like most summer courses the professor
really lays it on in a short time.

Well, exam time rolled around and our
instructor asked only one question. I read the question and I
read it several times and realized I did not have the slightest
idea what he wanted for an answer.

I finally got the shovel out and wrote out
about everything he had talked about in class that I could
remember. It must have been what he wanted because he bragged
the next day what an excellent job I had done on the exam and I
received an A grade. Maybe the only one I received at OSU except
maybe phys ed class. I don’t remember what the course was.

I had a friend who learned the hard way that
different professors at OSU had different ideas. Our English
class had little to do with grammar except we should use correct
grammar when writing about the junk we were assigned.

My friend had a friend who received an A
grade on his composition with only a red mark or two. Knowing
they had different instructors he copies his friend’s work,
corrected his few mistakes, and turned it in. Well, you’ve guess
it; he got his paper back with red marks every where and an E
grade. It looked as though his teacher had worn out a red
pencil, pointing out his mistakes.

I made it through the three quarters although
I didn’t set the world on fire. Those ladies who taught my
English class didn’t understand most of us in Southeastern Ohio have a different way of expressing
ourselves.

I drive by some of our schools today and see
all kinds of playground equipment near the school. I think maybe
we had a swing or two and maybe a homemade seesaw. If you happen
to pass by during break time or noon hour you might see a bunch
of students outside letting off steam. You will also see a
teacher or two maybe three keeping an eye on the students to see
the kids do not let off too much steam.

Maybe it was because there were only a few of
us our teacher didn’t bother us during recess or noon hour. We
were kind of on our own. I guess maybe they looked out the
window a time or two.

This was our time and we decided what we
wanted to do on our own. I still carry a scar on my knees from
playing “king of the hill” on a rather large ash pile in front
of our school. I wasn’t king anymore that day. We played a
number of games. Kids do not play nowadays. Plus the fact our
sex education class was held around the rather large girls’ and
boys’ buildings out back of the school house. I don’t know how
we ever made it through.